n The last two meetings between Cooper and Rider have come down to the final minute of play. Last year, Cooper running back Kerry Sims had a 2-yard TD run with 32 seconds left to give the Cougars a 43-36 victory.

n Rider enters the season tied for 10th with Texas City in the Associated Press Class 4A poll. Cooper received one vote in the Class 5A poll.

n Cooper quarterback Lorenzo Joe is considered one of the top college prospects in the state, rated a four star prospect by Rivals.com. He’s committed to the University of Texas, where he’ll likely be used as a receiver.

LEWISVILLE HEBRON AT ABILENE HIGH

When/where: 7:30 p.m. today, Shotwell Stadium, Abilene

2012 records: Hebron 6-5; Abilene High 12-1

Last meeting/series: Abilene High 13, Hebron 10 (2012); Abilene High leads series 2-0.

Three things to watch

n Hebron is loaded with Division I college talent, and currently have two players already verbally committed to play at the next level. Senior running back Cedric Dale is headed to BYU, while junior offensive lineman Zach Rogers is committed to Arkansas. Senior safety Jamal Adams is considered one of the top prospects in the state, and has offers from 25 schools, including Texas and Texas A&M.

n Abilene High isn’t without some Division I talent of its own, though. Senior defensive end Jake McMillon has verbally committed to play at Texas. McMillon was the first freshman to play for coach Steve Warren in his 18 seasons leading the Eagles.

n Last season, the Eagles won a defensive battle with Hebron. They held Hebron to just 266 yards of total offense and no offensive TD. Hebron’s lone TD came on an interception return.

ODESSA HIGH AT AMARILLO HIGH

When/where: 8 p.m. today, Dick Bivins Stadium, Amarillo

2012 records: Odessa High 1-9; Amarillo High 10-3.

Last meeting/series: Amarillo High 56, Odessa High 15 (2012); Odessa High leads series 29-18.

Three things to watch

n Amarillo High had a successful run in its first year in Class 4A, but had heavy turnover from the regional qualifier team. The Sandies return just two offensive and four defensive starters. However, Mel Maxfield’s Wing-T system remains in place, and his players come in familiar with it.

n Odessa High endured a nightmarish season a year ago as player after player went down with an injury. It forced the Bronchos to play a lot of underclassmen, which they now hope will pay off this season. They hope to be more balanced offensively this season after all of those injuries forced them to put too heavy of a load on running back C.J. Eddison.

n The Bronchos currently have a three-game losing streak against longtime rival Amarillo High. They haven’t beaten the Sandies since 2009.

n Montwood defeated Permian for the first time in school history last season, which was also the Panthers’ first loss to an El Paso school since 1960. After falling to El Paso El Dorado in the Class 5A Division I bi-district round last season, Permian has now lost two straight to El Paso schools. The Panthers are also looking to win a season opener for the first time since 2008.

n Tonight will mark the long-awaited debut of Permian junior quarterback Heath Wood, a standout on the Panthers’ junior varsity team last season. Wood had a hard time finding a rhythm in the Panthers’ scrimmage against El Dorado last week, completing 2 of 9 passes for 22 yards and two interceptions and will look to get going against Montwood.

n The Permian running game impressed in the El Dorado scrimmage and may be a focal point against the Rams. Senior Mikorban Fields and sophomore Brandon Bailey combined for 249 rushing yards against El Dorado, including 129 yards on 12 carries by Bailey. The Panthers also expect to have back junior Justin Hall, who missed the scrimmage with a separated shoulder.

n These two teams are very familiar with one another, having played five times in the past three years. Three of those five games have been thrillers, including a five overtime affair in 2011. Franklin beat Central twice last season, including 34-14 in the bi-district round of the playoffs.

n Franklin had possibly its most successful season in program history last year, but lost a lot of pieces from that area finalist squad. The Cougars return two offensive starters and one on defense. They’re top returning starter is senior quarterback Cameron Candelaria, who passed for 2,422 yards last season.

n Central is on the opposite spectrum as Franklin with six offensive starters back and nine defensive. The Bobcats posted huge offensive numbers a year ago, and with senior quarterback Mickey Scott back behind center, expectations are high for the Central offense once again.

n Of the last four meetings between the teams, all but one has been decided by a field goal or less. Monterey has won the last three meetings, the longest streak by either team since Monterey won five in a row from 1999 to 2003.

n In going 2-8 last season, the game against Monterey was the Mustangs’ only loss that didn’t come by double-digit points. After surviving Lubbock High last year in a 7-0 victory, Coronado will look to top Montery and give itself a chance to go 2-0 against its in-town rivals to finish non-district play undefeated.

n This game will mark the second debut of Coronado senior defensive end Devondric Meadows. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Meadows sat out last season to focus on basketball and now returns to the gridiron for his senior year. Meadows already holds an offer from SMU, according to Rivals.com, and is expected to be a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball.

Weather forecast: Highs in the mid 90s at kickoff, getting down to the mid 80s at the end of the game.

Three things to watch

n Andrews QB Shane Dolgener (6-2, 180, Sr.) makes his return after missing most of last season with a knee injury. By all indications, Dolgener is ready to lead the Mustangs again this season.

“He’s getting a little better each day,” said Andrews coach Ralph Mason about Dolgener’s progress during preseason practices. “Naturally, he had some rust to wear off.”

n Mason said his team has done some good things in scrimmages against Greenwood and Denver City but still is not where he wants it to be.

“We still need to work on the efficiency and consistency department,” Mason said.

n The Chiefs have won four games in the last four seasons but look to be competitive this year with their defense, led by DE Jason Roberts (6-1, 190, Sr.), who had 42 tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles last year.

Weather forecast: Sunny with temperatures in the mid 90s at kickoff, getting down the mid 80s at the end of the game.

Three things to watch

n Big Spring coach Phillip Ritchey said his team is coming off a good scrimmage against Lubbock Estacado as the Steers played well on both sides of the ball.

“We had some big plays on offense and it was good to see some long touchdown passes against their speed,” Ritchey said. “Then on defense, we did a good job of controlling their speed.”

n The Steers are led by QB Tobyn Tannehill (6-1, 170, Jr.), who passed for 1,793 yards and 14 touchdowns to go with 830 yards rushing and seven TDs, while teammate WR/DB/K/P Devin Roberson (6-1, 175, Sr.) caught 49 passes for 785 yards and five TDs to go with 73 total tackles and three interceptions.

n Fort Stockton is led by QB Victor Olivas (5-8, 187, Sr.), who started five games last season as he rushed for 916 yards to go with 422 yards passing.

“Fort Stockton has gone to a different offensive look, from the I to the spread, so we’re having to work hard to get ready for it,” Ritchey said. “Turnovers will be a key for us, both in limiting our mistakes and getting some in our favor. And we have to execute on both sides of the ball.”

Weather forecast: Sunny with temperatures in the lower 90s at kickoff, getting down to the lower 80s at the end of the game.

Three things to watch

n Stanton coach John Peterson said he saw some improvement from his team in the last scrimmage against Tahoka.

“It was a very competitive scrimmage as we got to see some speed and got to work on that part of the game, and our defense stepped up and did a better job than the week before,” Peterson said.

n Peterson said senior RB/LB Ruben Cazares will be out three to four weeks with an elbow injury. The Buffaloes will look to RB Tim Anderson (5-10, 175, Sr.) to lead them after rushing for 1,037 yards and 12 TDs last season.

n Denver City, coached by former Greenwood coach Steve Taylor, is a Division I Class 2A opponent that made the playoffs last year. The Mustangs are led by QB Mason Milligan (5-9, 175, Sr.), who had 501 yards passing, 784 yards rushing and 16 total TDs.

“Denver City has some big, strong kids over there and they get after it,” Peterson said. “We have to do a good job of controlling the football to keep their high-powered offense off the field as much as we can.”

Weather forecast: Partly cloudy, with a high around 87 degrees at game time

Three things to watch

n SB/E E.J. Rodriguez will be looking for another big game against Ropes this week. Rodriguez threw for 318 yards and rushed for another 120 yards in last year’s playoff victory. Tonight’s game will be the third meeting in a calendar year for the two teams.

n How the Wildcats repond this week will be something that coach Chris Kuykendall is looking at after he said his team had some “eye opening” experiences in their two preseason scrimmages. He said the team didn’t practice well on Monday, but picked it up on Tuesday. “We had a good practice (Wednesday), and we are hoping to just polish up and be prepared for everything that we need for tomorrow by the end of the day (Thursday),” Kuykendall said.

n WR Joseph Briseno (Jr.) will sit out today’s game as a precautionary measure after taking a hard hit in last week’s scrimmage. Briseno was expected to have his production increased after Taylor Polson’s knee injury in the spring.